The Weeknd

I don't believe in icons.

To be recognized for the hard work my team and I put into 'Starboy' is an honor.

Thanks to my fans that have been with me from the beginning, I was able to sell out arenas on my own.

Alternative R&B is in my soul. It's not going anywhere.

The game is changing with songs like 'Earned It' as opposed to it changing me.

I love trying new things.

A chorus is not easy.

I feel like everything we do comes down to how it looks. Even no branding is branding. For example, you had no face or image to put to my music at first. That was branding.

For an Ethiopian mother, if you have a chubby kid, it means you're doing something good.

The Joker that Christopher Nolan created in 'The Dark Knight' had the scar across his mouth, and the first time you heard his explanation for it, he makes you believe that's how he got it. But then you get into the film, and every time he talks about his scar, it's a totally different story.

I feel like I'm changing pop culture.

At one point, I didn't care. Now I want as many people to hear my music as possible.

'Kiss Land' wasn't about what people wanted to hear on the radio. It was the state of mind I was in - introverted, like David Cronenberg's 'Naked Lunch.' You didn't know if you were hearing a chorus or a verse. It was just my thoughts.

All I do is make music.

I'm a studio rat.

The effect of music on fashion has been immense, especially hip-hop and urban music.

You aren't normal if you sing to people. You aren't a normal person. It's nerve-racking.

I'm trying to get to Mars before everyone else.

Going home helps the content.

I'm mainstream.